Recommend a Speaker/Honorary Degree Recipient

SPEAKER RECOMMENDATIONS

We invite Michigan State University undergraduate and graduate students to submit names of notable persons for consideration as speakers at the central undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies. The nominees should be individuals whose accomplishments and values are exemplary. The speaker selections should enhance the ceremonies without deflecting attention from the graduates, whose academic achievements are being recognized.

Guidelines for selection, as defined by past student committees, include the following:

Someone havingbroad appeal. A speaker who will recognize that the commencement audience is a large group of individuals with a diverse range of values, interests and concerns.

The speaker will deliver anappropriate message. Keep in mind that the commencement address is unidirectional. The audience does not respond.

Someone who ismotivational.

Someone withname or withnational and/or internationalstanding.

Someone who is considered anexemplary role model.

Someone who isinteresting and engaging.

Lists of nominees will be compiled and shared with the president. Final selections rest with the president of the University. Please be aware that identifying and securing external speakers is a complex process involving many considerations and requiring a firm commitment on the part of those invited.

Please include with your recommendation a brief identification of the individual being nominated and the ceremony (graduate or undergraduate; semester and year) for which you are nominating the person. Be aware that selection and arrangements normally take a minimum of six months to complete.

HONORARY DEGREES

For guidelines, instructions and forms, and a list of past MSU Honorary Degree recipients, please visit the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at http://vprgs.msu.edu/honorary-degree.